Comfort Food

Is Comfort Food Really That Comforting?

Whoever came up with the term “comfort food” was one of the best marketers of our time. There are varying opinions about the pros and cons of consuming these home-cooked (or just like homemade) meals that tend to be relatively low on preparation time and high in carbohydrates. However, one thing that almost everyone can agree on is that we all have at least one favorite “comfort food” dish.

What Are Comfort Foods?

Macaroni and cheese, fried chicken and potato salad are all dishes most people would comfortably fit into the comfort-food category. Since it’s considered any food that is easy to prepare and fun to consume, there are many other foods that qualify as well. Mashed potatoes, meatloaf, soups, chili, pizza, pot pies, pastas, burgers, even cookies, cobblers, pies and ice cream are items well-known for providing comfort.

Where Did It Originate?Comfort food is something that has been a part of our culture for as long as we can remember---and then some. Many people find it nostalgic; a tasty way to reminisce on childhood memories like the “fresh from the oven” chocolate-chip cookies that our mothers made when we were kids, or sharing a tub of ice cream with a friend after a breakup in college. But there is another theory behind its name and popularity.

No one really knows how long the term has existed in America, but because it’s often relied on as an edible way to pacify us during times of national or personal stress, its understandable why the phrase became popular in the 1970s and is making a strong comeback today. The turbulent shifts in economy compounded with the Iraq War are just two reasons many people find assurance in cooking and eating homemade meals that are often inexpensive to make and satisfying to the soul.

If comfort food had a full-time home, it would probably be living in the South. Even though it can be found anywhere, the South is known for large portions of satisfying, filling and well, comforting food. Actually, there are many restaurants such as Justin’s in Atlanta, Ga., Monell’s in Nashville, Tenn., and The Texas Pie Company in Kyle, Texas, that successfully advertise their eateries as “a home away from home” when it comes to providing the best food for comfort outside of your own kitchen.

This concept has caught on nationally. In an attempt to take the South to the North last summer, Memphis-born pop star, Justin Timberlake opened Southern Hospitality, a barbecue-style restaurant serving finger foods in Harlem, N.Y., up the street from the long-established comfort and soul-food rival, Sylvia’s. On the West Coast, Urban Solace in San Diego, Calif., has become quite popular for its grilled cheese and sweet potato French fries.

The Psychology of Comfort Food

The New York Times recently published an article titled “Comfort Food, for Monkeys.” It compared the eating habits of female monkeys to that of women; especially as it related to snacking and stress. While following the eating habits of dominate and subordinate monkeys, it appeared that subordinate monkeys found a certain level of reassurance when it came to snacking. One finding stated that the fatty food helped to block the monkeys’ stress responses. Another was that snacks stimulated the the reward pathways to the brain.

When Debra A. Zellner, a psychologist at Montclair State University, tested men and women on their snack habits as it related to stress, she discovered that snacking not only differed according to gender, but also activity. When provided with the option of potato chips, M&M’s, peanuts and red grapes, women who were given solvable puzzles ate grapes, while women under stress went for the hard-covered, chocolate-candied shells.

After factoring in that more women diet (and binge) than men– which alone counts for some of the varying levels of stress between the sexes– her conclusion was interesting.

This is just one published study, but there are myriad findings to support that comfort food should be eaten in moderation due to its high levels of sugar, salt, fat and refined wheat.

"If they're the kind of comfort foods that are high in calories and low in nutrients, [the calories] could add up quickly," says Bonnie Taub-Dix, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, in a USA Today Article last February.

Adding to it all, Elizabeth Ward, author of The Pocket Idiot's Guide to the New Food Pyramids, wrote “[The] guilt is not worth it.”

The Best Way to Prepare Comfort Food

Do you love to indulge but don’t consider yourself a comfort-food chef? Just not into all the added calories and fat? Don’t worry; there are plenty of options out there.

Several comfort-food cookbooks have become bestsellers, including Comfort Food: Rachel Ray Top 30 30-Minute Meals. There are also trendy, health-conscious reads like The Low-Carb Cookbook by Michael R. Eades, M.D. and Mary Dan Eades, M.D.

Another new and popular book is the Taste of Home, Comfort Diet Cookbook, by the editors of Taste of Home magazine. It features over 200 recipes including Beef and Spinach Lasagna and Spiced Honey Pretzels. There is even a page that lists food and drinks that are less than 20 calories or five grams of carbohydrates per serving.

Keep in mind that when it comes to enjoying comfort food, it’s all about preparation and portion control. If it’s ice cream that you like, consider Edy’s Slow Churn, which has 1/3 less calories. If you’re a fan of pizza, thin crust is a healthier alternative. Are you craving a leg of fried chicken? Consider oven baking instead of pan frying. It’s also a good idea to couple comfort foods with fresh fruit and vegetables (which are high in fiber) and plenty of water (which is a great detoxifier).

It would truly be a challenge to find a dietician, homeopath or physical trainer who would encourage you to eat comfort food as a regular staple in your diet, but it would probably be even more difficult to find one of these individuals who didn’t indulge from time to time. As much as we differ as individuals, it is no wonder we find different foods enjoyable, and yes, even comforting. Just keep in mind that anything that is designed to comfort you is meant to “soothe,” “console” and “reassure.”

So, before choosing to appease your particular food craving, ask yourself if it’s going to give you more long-term pleasure or pain. If it’s the latter, while it may be traditionally classified as “comfort food,” for you, it may just be a bowl, plate or bag of junk. At the end of the day (or night), there’s nothing very comforting about that.

What’s Your Diet Downfall?

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